RESERVOIR ACQUIRES R&B CATALOG OF WRITER-PRODUCER ALLAN FELDER

12/8/2015

Reservoir is pleased to announce the acquisition of the soul and R&B catalog of late songwriter-producer Allan Felder. The purchase sees Reservoir add over 350 Felder titles from the 1960s to present to its multi-genre portfolio.

With repertoire performed by legendary artists like Ben E. King, Eddie Kendricks, The O’Jays, First Choice, The Dells, Blue Magic, and The Whispers, Allan Felder’s works are included among some of R&B's most memorable releases. The O’Jays’ Survival, which includes the Felder-penned “Let Me Make Love To You”, hit #1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart and was certified Gold in 1975; Lou Rawls' All Things In Time, including the Felder title “Time”, went Platinum in 1977; The Whispers’ Felder song “I’ve Got A Feeling” was a top 5 single at Disco in 1976; and The Trammps’ Disco Inferno album, boasting Felder’s “Don’t Burn No Bridges”, famously went Gold in 1978. Other successful songs include the radio and dancefloor classics “Doctor Love” by First Choice, “Runaway” by Loleatta Holloway, “My Love is Free” by Double Exposure, “Hold Back the Night” by The Trammps and “Cheaters Never Win” by Love Committee. Felder’s work is emblematic of the famed 'Philadelphia Sound’ era in R&B, which he fostered as a writer for celebrated record labels Philly International and Salsoul, as well as the lesser-known but equally impactful soul music label Philly Groove Records, which Reservoir acquired in 2012.

Felder's works have seen samples and interpolations propel his past hits into the present, to additional success. Highlights include the use of The Delfonics’ “Walk Right Up To The Sun” in the 1996 Nas featuring Lauryn Hill gold single “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”, Keni Burke’s “Risin’ to the Top" in the Nas track “Hey Nas”, from his 2002 #1 R&B/Hip-Hop Album God’s Son, and again in the 2003 LL Cool J single “Paradise”; The Trammps’ “Rubber Band” in The Game and 50 Cent’s 2005 #1 R&B/Hip-Hop Song, “Hate It Or Love It”; and Eddie Kendricks' “Goin’ Up In Smoke” in Mariah Carey’s “Meteorite”, included on her 2014 #1 R&B/Hip-Hop album, The Elusive Chanteuse.

Reservoir SVP of Creative and Business Development Faith Newman worked with the surviving Felder family to arrange the acquisition, stating, “It’s incredible to add another historic catalog to the Reservoir family. Allan Felder and his peers laid the groundwork for contemporary R&B, which remains massively influential to this day. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to uphold the legacy and longevity of these works just as they deserve to be upheld."

The Felder acquisition sees Reservoir close a year of notable deals and signings, with additions including internationally acclaimed hip-hop artist Joey Bada$$, breakout artist-production team WatchTheDuck, and the works of Southern rock band Molly Hatchet, among others.